Over the past year, I have been researching the death of Flt Sgt Tadeusz Wojceichowski, a Pole serving with the RAF.
Tad disappeared when his aircraft, a DH Vampire FB9 of 60 Sqn, crashed into the jungle of what was then Malaya, on the evening of 17 March 1952. Wreckage of the aircraft was found on 1 March 1957 but no trace of Tad has ever been found.
So far, I have managed to piece together quite a bit of his background from his escape from Poland in 1940, right up to the time of his disappearance in 1952. Most of this has been obtained from the son of Tad’s nominated next of kin.
There are still some areas that I would like to cover. In particular, Tad was twice awarded the Polish Cross of Valour during his wartime service. I believe that these awards were made when he was serving with 317 and 302 Sqn’s in 1944. The next of kin have no details about the awards.
I have contacted the Sikorski Institute and Museum in London, as well as the Polish Records Office at Northolt. Neither of these organisations have any details of the awards unfortunately.
Can anyone offer any suggestions as to where else I might be able to obtain this information?
BR
Laurie.
By: lauriebe - 1st November 2004 at 07:11
Difficult one as you’ve tried the obvious places that have always supplied me with what I’ve needed.
You may want to give the chap below an e-mail or phone call. I’m not sure how up to date the info is though as I’ve had problems getting hold of him recently via the web. Perhaps a telephone call will be best?
Depending on when the cross was awarded, early ones were numbered (IIRC) so if you have the medals that may help, if you don’t, well obviously no help!
Good luck – let us know how you get on with the good Dr. above.
Dean
Dean,
I found another e-mail link to the gentleman yesterday and tried that. I got an answer in my inbox this morning. He cannot help unfortunately.
So, it’s back to the drawing board again.
BR
By: lauriebe - 31st October 2004 at 12:00
The site only deals with the VM but the chap himself is expert on all things Polish medal-wise. He was able to confirm some CV medals I have in my collection and ID a couple of others. He has/had another site listing around 4-5 pages of medals and badges for sale, all Polish but I cannot find the URL for it. As I say, a phone-call is probably gonna be best.
25,000 CV’s were awarded by the Polish Government in exile, & 30,000 in total. Have a look at this link from within his site.
http://www.virtuti.com/order/articles/virtuti.html
Just for info, mine is the Virtuti Militari group that he mentions that “only” cost $250, being worth $1500+ for the VM alone – and it’s an RAF/PAF group at that with CV and 3 (!!!) bars plus Air Crew Europe etc. A lucky day at the antique shop!
Dean
A lucky day at the antique shop indeed!!
I have tried using the e-mail facility on the website itself. That doesn’t work.
It looks like a phone call, as you suggest, is the way to go. Must make sure that I get the time differences right!
BR
Laurie.
By: oscar duck - 31st October 2004 at 05:28
Oz fighter pilot Clive “Killer” Caldwell awarded the Polish Cross of Valour in Middle East!..ex CO 112 Sqn
By: skypilot62 - 31st October 2004 at 02:44
Dean,
Many thanks for that info.
I have had a look at the site that you mentioned. This deals only with the Order of the Virtuti Militari. The Polish Cross of Valour is a couple of rungs down the order of precedence from this award. Equating, I think, to a DSC/DFC on the British scale.
I do not have the medal although I do have a scanned photo of it. It appears to be a 1920 issue of the Cross, with the ribbon colours reversed. This, I believe was to distinguish those awards made to Polish exile forces during WWII.
BR
Laurie.
The site only deals with the VM but the chap himself is expert on all things Polish medal-wise. He was able to confirm some CV medals I have in my collection and ID a couple of others. He has/had another site listing around 4-5 pages of medals and badges for sale, all Polish but I cannot find the URL for it. As I say, a phone-call is probably gonna be best.
25,000 CV’s were awarded by the Polish Government in exile, & 30,000 in total. Have a look at this link from within his site.
http://www.virtuti.com/order/articles/virtuti.html
Just for info, mine is the Virtuti Militari group that he mentions that “only” cost $250, being worth $1500+ for the VM alone – and it’s an RAF/PAF group at that with CV and 3 (!!!) bars plus Air Crew Europe etc. A lucky day at the antique shop!
Dean
By: lauriebe - 31st October 2004 at 01:57
Dean,
Many thanks for that info.
I have had a look at the site that you mentioned. This deals only with the Order of the Virtuti Militari. The Polish Cross of Valour is a couple of rungs down the order of precedence from this award. Equating, I think, to a DSC/DFC on the British scale.
I do not have the medal although I do have a scanned photo of it. It appears to be a 1920 issue of the Cross, with the ribbon colours reversed. This, I believe was to distinguish those awards made to Polish exile forces during WWII.
BR
Laurie.
By: skypilot62 - 31st October 2004 at 01:00
Difficult one as you’ve tried the obvious places that have always supplied me with what I’ve needed.
You may want to give the chap below an e-mail or phone call. I’m not sure how up to date the info is though as I’ve had problems getting hold of him recently via the web. Perhaps a telephone call will be best?
Depending on when the cross was awarded, early ones were numbered (IIRC) so if you have the medals that may help, if you don’t, well obviously no help!
Good luck – let us know how you get on with the good Dr. above.
Dean
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October 30, 2004 at 1:31 pm